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Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction
| Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $184,995 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $14,453,647,968 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the Board of Education |
| Authority: | Ohio Constitution, Article VI, Section 4 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by state Board of Education |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction
Paul Craft | |
| Other Ohio Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction is an appointed executive position in the Ohio state government. The superintendent is the chief education officer in the state and serves as the secretary of the Ohio Board of Education.[1]
Current officeholder
The current Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction is Paul Craft (nonpartisan). Craft assumed office in 2024.
Authority
The state Constitution establishes the office of the superintendent of public instruction in Article VI, Section 4:
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There shall be a state board of education which shall be selected in such manner and for such terms as shall be provided by law. There shall be a superintendent of public instruction, who shall be appointed by the state board of education. The respective powers and duties of the board and of the superintendent shall be prescribed by law.[2] |
Qualifications
Chapter 3301, Section 08 of the Ohio Revised Code outlines the qualifications to hold office:
- May not hold any other office or position of employment
- May not be an officer or employee of any public or private school, college, university, or other institution of higher education
- May not have a financial interest in any book publishing or bookselling company
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The state board of education shall appoint the superintendent of public instruction, who shall serve at the pleasure of the board. The board shall fix the compensation for the position of superintendent of public instruction. The superintendent of public instruction, while holding such office, shall not hold any other office or position of employment, or be an officer or employee of any public or private school, or a public or private college, university, or other institution of higher education. The superintendent may, in the conduct of the superintendent’s official duties, travel within or without the state, and the superintendent’s necessary and actual expenses therefore when properly verified shall be paid by the state. No one who is interested financially in any book publishing or book selling company, firm, or corporation, shall be eligible to appointment as superintendent of public instruction. If a superintendent becomes interested financially in any book publishing or book selling company, firm, or corporation, said superintendent shall forthwith be removed from office by the state board. The interest of a person as author of a book shall not be improper, provided such book is not one offered for use by pupils in the public schools of Ohio.[3]
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Appointments
The Ohio Board of Education appoints the superintendent, who serves at the pleasure of the board.[3]
Vacancies
In the event of a vacancy in the office, the state board of education will appoint a successor.[2]
Duties
The superintendent of public instruction works with the state Board of Education to ensure every child in Ohio has access to a quality education. The superintendent serves as the secretary to the board and also its executive and administrative officer. They are responsible for executing the educational policies, orders, and administrative functions of the board as well as directing the work of all employees who work in the department of education.[1]
Chapter 3301.12 of the Ohio Revised Code outlines additional duties of the superintendent:
- provide technical and professional assistance to all school districts regarding finance, buildings and equipment, administration, organization of school districts, curriculum and instruction, transportation of pupils, personnel problems, and the interpretation of school laws and state regulations[4]
- prescribe and require the preparation and filing of financial reports from school districts, officers, and employees[4]
- conduct studies and research projects to improve public education in Ohio[4]
- prepare and submit an annual report to the state board of education[4]
- supervise all agencies over which the board exercises administrative control, including schools for education or persons with disabilities[4]
- establish metrics and courses of study for institutions of higher education that prepare educators[4]
State budget
- See also: Ohio state budget and finances
The budget for the Department of Education in fiscal year 2025 was $14,453,647,968.[5]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $184,995, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $184,995, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the superintendent received a salary of $201,572, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the superintendent received a salary of $209,997, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the superintendent received a salary of $189,571, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the superintendent received a salary of $184,496, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the superintendent received a salary of $192,504, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the superintendent received a salary of $192,504, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the superintendent received a salary of $192,504, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2014
In 2014, the superintendent was paid an estimated $192,504, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2013
In 2013, the superintendent was paid an estimated $160,014, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2010
In 2010, the superintendent was paid an estimated $194,501, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
25 South Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215-4183
Phone: 877-644-6338
E-mail: contact.center@education.ohio.gov
See also
| Ohio | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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- Superintendent of Schools
- Ohio school districts
- Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
- Public education in Ohio
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ohio Department of Education, "About ODE," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Ohio Legislature, "Constitution of the State of Ohio," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ohio Revised Code, "Chapter 3301.08: Appointment of superintendent of public instruction," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Ohio Revised Code, "Chapter 3301.12: Superintendent of public instruction - additional duties," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ The Ohio Legislature, "Amended Substitute House Bill 33," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 27, 2021
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed January 27, 2021
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